Airdrie Adventure Scouts

Craft Ideas and Tips

Beads

If your Beavers are making something that calls for wooden beads and you don't have them, roll up small wads of tissue paper and saturate with glue to make your own. These "beads" will take paint when dry.

Clean-Up

If you're working on a messy project, provide a basin of water and old towel, and cover the floor with newspapers to keep everybody and everything clean, including the washroom at the Pond. Make sure your Beavers help to clean up after a craft program. That will encourage them to do crafts in a tidy and organized way.

Don't Stifle Creativity

Beaver age children are at an age where they are most creative. Generally, they're usually happy with their work regardless of what others think. As adults working with this age group we should enjoy the variety and excitement the Beavers bring to the activity. Try not to bring your view of what the project should look like and how it should be done.

Glue and Paste

While white project glue is often used, glue sticks are one of our favourites. They are easy for the Beavers to use, store easily, and don't make a mess. The major drawback is their expense, but keep your eyes open for deals. Hot glue guns, even "Cool" guns work well with many materials, but except perhaps for White Tails, adult should operate these. If you want to make some really quick-drying glue for a project, pour a little white glue into a disposable lid, add some flour, and mix well. The result is tacky glue that will dry fast.

Hot Glue Guns

When using a hot glue gun, keep a bowl of ice water nearby in case you touch the glue with your fingers — which often happens. The water will prevent blistering. Use a craft stick or toothpick to push items into the glue. WAIT until glue is cool to remove the glue strings.

Models

Beaver age children learn by watching and modelling. When you are preparing a craft for them make a model, and example, of what the finished work might look like. This will help them visualize what they are trying to do with the materials you have given them. Let them see and touch. Don't make the models to perfect. Try to make the sample using a child's eye. Perhaps have several members of your leadership team or helpers make completely different samples.

Mobiles

When your Beavers are making mobiles, have them hang the cut-outs from wool or heavy string. Thread tangles very easily.

Paint Brush

Here's a neat idea. Convert dry felt-tip markers into paintbrushes with their own caps. Simply clean the tip thoroughly with soap and water, let dry and in a few days, and they're ready to use. As other different paint containers, consider the roller top deodorant containers and shoe polish bottles.

Paint Brush Cleaning

Nylon net is an ideal paint brush cleaner. Used with any type of soap, it will clean even oil paints and will remove paint from the hands without scratching.

Plaster of Paris

When Beavers are working with plaster of paris, keep in mind that one energetic adult can manage five children and no more. Remember to use lots of newspaper and plastic covering. Foil or plastic cups make very good molds for Plaster of Paris.

Prepackage

Realizing that Beavers have a short attention span, there's two schools of thought for distributing craft components. One says to involve the Beavers handing out the craft, glue, scissors, etc. The other says to prepackage the entire project, in a kit (sealable plastic freeze bag) for each Beaver.

Recycled Materials

As your parents to help you collect Good Junk, and provide them with a list of what you are looking for. You may also find local manufacturers who are willing to donate such things as wood scraps, dowels, foam pieces, rug samples, material ends, and cardboard. Make up Recycling Grab Bags. Add yarn, construction paper bits, wall paper swatches, tissue paper, sequins, beads, whatever, and let your Beavers be creative in what they create.

Repair Stuff

Even if it is not required for the project, keep tape, staples and a glue stick handy. Somewhere through the project you will need to do a lot of patching as parts of the project are accidentally torn, cut away, or just are glued sufficiently (or too much). Show your Beavers how to use these patch-up materials for themselves. It's all part of the learning process.

Sequins

Use toothpicks to pick up sequins. If the sequins are to be glued to something, put a bit of glue on the toothpick to hold the sequin until it's properly placed.

Sewing

Work with embroidery needles for craft work sewing. Beavers will find the large eye easier to thread. They'll also find sewing easier if you use heavy thread because it doesn't tangle life finer thread.

String and Yarn

When your Beavers are going to use yarn or string to thread beads, cards, or other items, make it easier by applying two coats of clear nail polish to the ends of each string. You can get the same effect by dipping the ends of the string in white glue. Another solution is to wrap the ends with sticky tape, or look at bobby pins. They have blunt ends, are stiff, easy to thread and inexpensive. Finally, consider plastic needles and maybe even long shoe laces.

Styrofoam

Use a bread knife or coping saw and a see-saw motion to cut styrofoam. If you're painting styrofoam with tempera, add a few drops of liquid detergent to give the paint a velvet finish. Never paint styrofoam balls with gold paint; it dissolves the styrofoam.